Ladies prove to be the winning hand

WILKES-BARRE PA – A pair of ladies proved to be the winning hand Monday night at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, as the mares Gracie's Parade and Windsongmusclelady reported home first in a pair of  harness racing $14,000 claiming handicap features.

 

Gracie's Parade, a daughter of Royal Mattjesty making her debut for owner/trainer Matias Ruiz off a claim, repaid immediate dividends when she closed strongly from third-over for driver Eric Goodell in the mares pacing co-feature, getting past Americangirlfriend (Eric Carlson) late to tally by a neck in 1:53.3 as the top pair completed a "Detroit Eric" exacta (both drivers were kings on the Motor City circuit at different points).

 

Matt Kakaley continued his hot sulky streak this week with his tenth victory during Saturday-Sunday-Monday racing, steadily rallying the invading Windsongmusclelady in the latter stages of the mixed-sex trot coheadliner, then drawing off by 1¾ lengths while reducing her mark to 1:55.2. Richard Johnson conditions the victorious daughter of Muscle Mass, who is co-owned by Joseph Bongiorno LLC and Jennifer Bongiorno.